Career Opportunities

Students can go to work with an associate degree or they can continue their education and get a bachelors degree.

Associates degree:
Many students work for design contract firms that do design work or product testing for Caterpillar, John Deere and others. Students with associate degrees are also working for Caterpillar and Keystone Steel, Morton Metalcraft, Morton Welding, Kress Corp, UNR Rohn and many others.

Typical starting salary $26,000 per year

Bachelor's degree:
Students who elect to get a bachelors degree can choose from Bradley University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Western Illinois University, and Purdue University in the general Illinois area as well as universities all over the country.

Sample positions held by bachelors degree students include:

• diesel engine designer for Caterpillar
• production of service manuals and service publications for Caterpillar
  
• product support for Caterpillar
  
• manufacturing designer for Boeing Aircraft
  
• applications engineer for Timken Bearings.

Typical starting salary $48,000 per year